Planning a Gift For Wildlife

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

WRA Wildlife Rescue Association of BC (WRA) is a registered charitable society, whose mission is to provide leadership in rehabilitating wildlife and in promoting the welfare of wild animals in the urban environment.

The Association was formed in 1979 by a small group of concerned citizens in response to a growing need to provide specialist care for injured, orphaned and pollution-damaged wild animals in the Lower Mainland.

Expert careIn the early years, WRA's small facility on Burnaby Lake was quickly overrun by the many hundreds of animals coming through the doors, and so in 1987, the Association developed a larger centre to accommodate a growing caseload and to provide for the specialized needs of a wide variety of animals.

In the 1990s, WRA added to its facilities by building customized enclosures to rehabilitate waterfowl, raptors and mammals.

Today, WRA has become the largest rehabilitator of urban wildlife in B.C., and is recognized for its expertise in the care of birds, especially waterfowl, and in the treatment of wildlife impacted by oil spills and environmental pollution.

Each year, the organization receives more than 3,000 wild animals – birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians – from up to 150 species. Since 1979, we have seen over 70,000 animals ranging from hummingbirds and herons to bats and beavers.

Our small team, which includes a volunteer consulting veterinarian, animal technicians and biologists, works alongside a dedicated group of around 200 volunteers to provide professional medical attention that gives the animals in our care the best chance of future survival in the wild.

Sharing knowledge

Public education and outreach is an integral part of our mission to reduce the number of wild animals impacted by human activity. Each year, we deliver more than 100 presentations and displays at schools, seniors' centres and community events. We host an annual spring community festival – Earth Fest – to share information on how best to co-exist with the wildlife around us, and we introduce children to environmental stewardship in summer day camps. In addition, our website and telephone information line provide important resources for members of the public to find answers to their wildlife-related queries.

Planning for the future

WRA's vision to improve the welfare of local wildlife through rehabilitation and public education relies on the generous support of our donors. Our work is made possible by individual donations from members of the community, which make up over three quarters of the annual operating budget. In recent years, planned gifts have made all the difference by allowing us to continue our important mission in the face of economic uncertainty and by providing a measure of financial stability that allows us to plan for better facilities to help wildlife meet the challenges of the future.

For more information on giving, please visit our website www.wildliferescue.ca or call us at 604.526.2747.<!--[endif]-->

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